Review (PDF)

Pale Fire: A Poem In Four Cantos By John Shade

Many think Pale Fire Vladimir Nabokov's greatest novel. At its heart beats the 999-line poem, Pale Fire, penned by the distinguished American poet John Shade. This first-ever facsimile edition of the poem shows it to be not just a fictional device but a masterpiece of American poetry, albeit by an invented persona -- the greatest of invented poets, according to Nabokov's own accurate evaluation. In the novel Shade's mad neighbor, Charles Kinbote, absconds with the index-card manuscript of the poem, compiling an ostensible line-by-line commentary that largely ignores Shade's text and heeds only his own egotism. Kinbote's commentary, the bulk of the novel, is an insane comic triumph of would-be romantic self-celebration that cannot quite mute its undertones of desperation. But here we rescue Pale Fire from the madman's hand to show the magician's sleight of hand, and the enchantment, in Nabokov's most ambitious poem. Renowned Nabokov authority Brian Boyd brilliantly explains Pale Fire on its and Shade's own terms, showing how its texture compares with Shakespeare's sonnets at their best. Poet R.S. Gwynn sets it in the context of American poetry of its time. Artist Jean Holabird, who conceived the project, illustrates key details of the poem's pattern and pathos. Now readers can see the text for themselves, fresh from Shade's hands, before Kinbote commandeered it so shamelessly. This attractive box contains two booklets the poem Pale Fire in a handsome pocket edition and the book of essays by Boyd and Gwynn as well as facsimiles of the index cards that John Shade (like his maker, Nabokov) used for composing his poem, printed exactly as Vladimir Nabokov described them.

Hardcover: 88 pages

Publisher: Gingko Press; Box Pap/Bk edition (November 23, 2011)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 1584234318

ISBN-13: 978-1584234319

Product Dimensions: 7.3 x 1.7 x 10 inches

Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)

Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)

Best Sellers Rank: #209,266 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #21 in Books > Literature & Fiction > Poetry > Regional & Cultural > Russian #183 in Books > Literature & Fiction > History & Criticism > Genres & Styles > Poetry #1475 in Books > Literature & Fiction > History & Criticism > Criticism & Theory

This version of "Pale Fire" is a truly attractive and interesting concept in the production of one of Nabokov's greatest masterpieces. The original book is based on a 999 line poem of extraordinary wonder in 4 Cantos. In addition, there is an extensive interpretive statement also written by Nabokov, under the guise of a 'Professor Kinbote.' The publishers of this version of the book had a wonderful concept. They rendered the 999 line poem on index cards, as Nabokov would have utilized in his creation of this great masterpiece. Aesthetically, the rendering of this version is truly exceptional. However, the premise of the production is aberrant in one serious respect.The publisher seeks to emphasize the beauty and wonder of Nabokov's poem, and does this along with two wonderful interpretive commentaries never before published. However, they completely eliminate the commentary by 'Prof. Kinbote,' writing him off as a crazy lunatic with an obscure and absurd interpretive commentary on the poem. The odd thing about this choice is that 'Kinbote' is not a real person, who is a crazy lunatic. Rather, Kinbote is also a creation of Nabokov himself and the true and full meaning of the poem's underlying amazement is ONLY revealed through the comments of 'Kinbote.' To exclude his commentary from the publication is truly to rob the reader of some of the most intricate and important aspects of the book as Nabokov originally rendered his work. Even more surprising is that one of the commentators in this edition is Brian Boyd, who wrote a biography of Nabokov and of all people, should have been one of the most illuminated people with respect to Nabokov's multi-tiered levels of meaning in virtually everything he wrote.

Pale Fire: A Poem in Four Cantos by John Shade Fire Stick: The Ultimate Fire TV Stick User Guide - Start Using Fire TV Stick Like A Pro! (Streaming Devices, How To Use Fire Stick, Fire TV Stick User Guide) 7" Fire & Fire HD User Guide: From Beginner To Expert Guide - Everything You Need to Know About 's New Fire Tablets! ( 7" Fire, Fire HD User Guide) Fire Stick: The Ultimate Guide With Instructions To Unlock The True Potential Of Your Fire Stick (Streaming Devices, Fire TV Stick User Guide, How To Use Fire Stick) Fire Stick: The Complete User Manual To Starting With And Using Fire TV Stick, Plus Little-Known Tips And Tricks! (Streaming, How To Use Fire Stick, Fire TV Stick User Guide) Fire Stick: How To Unlock The True Potential Of Your Fire Stick - Plus Amazing Tips And Tricks! (Streaming Devices, Fire TV Stick User Guide, How To Use Fire Stick) Fire Stick: For Beginners! - Learn How To Start Using Your Fire Stick Now! (Streaming Devices, Fire TV Stick User Guide, How To Use Fire Stick) Fire TV User Guide: Watch TV Shows, Movies, Music, Apps, Games And Learn 7 Amazing Things About Fire TV! ( Fire TV User Guide, Streaming, Fire TV Manual) Fire Stick: Fire TV Stick Made Easy - The Ultimate Step-By-Step User Guide To Mastering Your Fire Stick In Less Than A Day! (How To Use ... Fire TV Stick User Guide, Streaming) Fire Stick: How to Start Using Fire Stick Like A Pro! - The Ultimate Guide to Master Your Fire Stick In Just 30 Minutes! (Streaming Devices, ... TV Stick User Guide, How To Use Fire Stick) Fire Stick: The Ultimate Fire Stick User Guide - Learn How To Start Using Fire Stick, Plus Little-Known Tips And Tricks! (Streaming ... TV Stick User Guide, How To Use Fire Stick) Fire Stick: The Complete Beginners Guide - Learn How To Setup And Master Your Fire Stick Today! (Streaming Devices, Fire TV Stick User Guide, How To Use Fire Stick) Fire Stick: The Ultimate Fire Stick User Guide To TV, Movies, Apps, Games & Much More! Plus Advanced Tips And Tricks! (Streaming Devices, Fire TV Stick User Guide, How To Use Fire Stick) Fire Stick: The Complete 2016 User Guide And Manual - How To Easily Install Android Apps On Your Fire Stick (Streaming Devices, Fire TV Stick User Guide, How To Use Fire Stick) Fire Stick: The Complete Fire Stick User Guide - Learn How To Install Apps, Games, Watch TV And Movies! (Streaming Devices, Fire TV Stick User Guide, How To Use Fire Stick) Fire Stick: The Ultimate User Guide To Starting With And Using Fire TV Stick (How To Use Fire Stick, Fire TV Stick User Guide, Streaming) The Shade Garden: Shade-Loving Plants for Year-Round Interest A Shade of Vampire 2: A Shade of Blood A Shade of Vampire 8: A Shade of Novak Paleo:Ultimate Pale Diet Cook Book For Beginners-MELT 10 POUNDS IN 14 DAYS MEAL PLAN +100 Recipes,(FREE BONUS INCLUDED),Paleo Diet Plan, Paleo Diet cookbook: Paleo Diet Cook Book For Beginners